Ancelotti praises Chelsea balance of power

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is convinced his side is the most balanced in the Premier League, which is the reason why it keeps on producing so many one-sided results.

The Premier League champions entertain Blackpool on Sunday having won all five of their games so far.

And with 21 goals having been racked up in those, the expectation is for Chelsea to win by a significant margin once again.

Ian Holloway’s side will be aiming to prove otherwise of course, especially as they have already upset the odds by winning at Wigan and Newcastle on their top-flight return.

But Blackpool were also beaten 6-0 at Arsenal last month – a scoreline Chelsea have inflicted on both West Bromwich Albion and Wigan – and Ancelotti inends to put out a full strength side following Wednesday’s 4-1 win at Zilina in the Champions League.

“You have to propose a kind of football with the players you have and we have fantastic ability up front,” he said. “We have to put a kind of football on the pitch to showcase this quality.

“Balance is important in football. If you have players with skill and ability, you can show this balance. You have to find that balance: to be able to attack and defend.”

Midfielder Frank Lampard is still recovering from groin surgery so will not feature and defender Jose Bosingwa is also sidelined but Ancelotti will bring back a host of familiar faces who did not feature in Slovakia.

Striker Didier Drogba, who was suspended, is one and Ashley Cole, Ramires, Paulo Ferreira and Salomon Kalou are all expected to return to the starting line-up.

Ancelotti was keen to ward off any complacency however.

“Blackpool are a good team and have won two away games and are showing good skills in the Premier League,” he said. “We have to pay attention. We are doing well now and we want that to continue.”

Blackpool will be pinning their hopes on striker DJ Campbell getting the better of former England captain John Terry.

“I’m going to be up against a world-class defender but I’ve nothing to lose,” the former Leicester City man said.

“My mentality is that I want to play against these guys and prove I can score against them. It just fires me up really.

“Terry is a great player, like all the Chelsea players, but we want to be on the same pitch as them. To score again and get a result would be nice – to say the least.”

Campbell will be looking to midfield play-maker Charlie Adam to supply the ammunition and the Scot was keen to pit his skills against the league leaders.

“They are the champions and they have some of the best players in the world but we aren’t going to make it easy for them or lie down,” he declared.

“We will try to win the game, like we did at Newcastle and Wigan. If we’re good enough on the day, then great; if we’re not, we will reflect and move on.”